Thank You Antioch 34 Voters- Referendum Passes and Construction Begins!

Please use the menu to the left to navigate this site.

Media (chronological order)

• "Final touches underway as Antioch District 34 wraps up two-year, $25.6 million improvement plan" (News-Sun, July 15, 2019)
• "Antioch District 34 additions, renovations 'on budget and on schedule" (News-Sun, January 2, 2019)
• "District 34 Master Facility Plan on Schedule and on Budget!" (Connections Magazine, Winter, 2018)
• "District 34 Updates Oakland and WC Petty Schools" (Talon Times Lakes Community High School, October, 2018)
• "District 34 breaks ground on construction projects" (Connection Magazine, June 2018)
• "Rallies celebrate start of District 34 school overhauls" (Daily Herald, 4-10-18)
• "Antioch school district prepares for big projects" (Daily Herald, 1-16-18)
• "District gets to work on referendum promises" (Connections Magazine, 8-1-17)
• "Voter-financed projects begin in Lake County school districts" (7-24-17)
• "Antioch District 34 takes next step toward funding $25M in capital improvements" (News-Sun, July 20, 2017)
• "Millions in fundsd sought for school improvements in Lake County" (Daily Herald, 3-31-2017)
• "Endorsement: Yes on Antioch Elementary District 34 building improvements" (Daily Herald, 3-21-2017)
• "Antioch District 34 board to vote yes or no on seeking debt referendum" (News-Sun, 1-4-2017)
• "Antioch District 34 mulls construction options ahead of $18.8 million bond vote" (News-Sun, 11-18-2016)
• "District 34 engages the community in Master Facility Planning" (Connections Magazine, 5-1-16)

Overview of the MFP

63% of voters said “yes” to the District 34 referendum in the April 4th, 2017 election.  Because of this vote of confidence, District 34 will be working to accomplish the following outcomes (below).

1. Shift to a K-5 Grade Level Configuration - In the current District 34 configuration, students attend three different schools during their K-8 school experience.  Hillcrest Elementary School serves as the Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and first grade center.  Students then attend one of 3 elementary schools that serve a grade 2-5 population (Oakland, W.C. Petty and Antioch Elementary School).  All students then attend Antioch Upper Grade School (AUGS) for their remaining 6-8th grade years.  District 34 is planning to change the configuration to a K-5 structure which will reduce the number of required school transitions.  The proposed configuration also creates neighborhood schools and allows for more efficient bussing.
2. Eliminate Portable/Mobile Classrooms- Over the years, District 34 has acquired 16 portable classrooms to accommodate growing student populations.  These learning spaces are not ideal and require students and staff to travel out of doors to access the main buildings.  Not only will the elimination of portable classrooms enhance student and staff safety and security, but will also provide greater aesthetic value on our school campuses. 
3. Create Greater Equity of Learning Spaces Across all Schools- There is a wide range of quality of learning spaces as a result of the age of school buildings ranging from 15 years old to 90 years old.  Some schools have central air conditioning while others do not.  Some schools have separate spaces for the gymnasium and cafeteria while other schools have a combined gymnasium/cafeteria space.  There is also a wide range of fluctuation in the size of the classroom space, quality of lighting, room temperature and other variables that impact student learning.  The Master Facility Plan proposes to increase the equity and quality of learning spaces across the District.
4. Capitalize on the Timing of Retirement of Debt Obligations- District 34 will replace existing debt that is due to retire in 2017.  The passed referendum will not increase the amount of annual property taxes paid by a homeowner for the District’s bond and interest payments.  View the illustration which demonstrates how annual payments would be replaced by equal or lower payments.